Midwest Living Review

Laura Billingsley

This lovely winery gives visitors a chance to stroll among the vines with a glass of Moon Beam White or Honey Moon Red.

Located just north of Ames, Prairie Moon Winery showcases pretty vineyards growing behind a retail space-tasting room and outdoor patio. Inside, the golden yellow walls feature paintings, metalwork and photos by local artists. At the antique bar (salvaged from a tavern in Nevada, Iowa), visitors can sample the entire line of reds and whites, many made with the winery's organically grown grapes. Make sure to try the Moon Beam White, a sweet wine with light carbonation. On the dry side, the Marechal Foch red ages in oak barrels for more than a year to give the wine woodsy, earthy tones.

The brick patio out back makes a lovely spot to enjoy views of the vines and gaze upon a wooden gazebo often used as for weddings. Groupings of wooden Adirondack chairs provide seating for the winery's summer Sunday concert series, which include rock, country, folk and blues music. A $3 cover charge includes a glass of sangria.